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Ionnis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center Nurse Receives DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses
[July 01, 2014]

Ionnis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center Nurse Receives DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses


RENO, Nev. --(Business Wire)--

Camilla Thomas, LPN, became the first nurse of Ionnis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center to receive the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The award was presented by The DAISY Foundation and UnitedHealthcare at a special ceremony today in Reno.

Camilla Thomas, LPN, became the first nurse of Ionnis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center to receive the D ...

Camilla Thomas, LPN, became the first nurse of Ionnis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center to receive the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. Left to right: L to R: Melissa Barnes, vice president, The DAISY Foundation; Rachel Crossley, RN, associate director, Patient Care Services, Ionnis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center; Camilla Thomas, LPN, Ionnis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center and DAISY Award winner; Ivy Thomas, granddaughter of Camilla; Lisa Howard, acting director, Ionnis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center; and James Combs, director, Central California & Northern Nevada Marke, UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans (Photo: Lance Iversen).



Thomas received a certificate commending her for being an "Extraordinary Nurse" to her veteran patients. The certificate reads: "In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people."


The DAISY Foundation's unique recognition program is part of many hospitals' recruitment and retention programs, helping to offset the acute shortage of nurses nationwide. Each month, nurses are selected by their nursing administration and peers to receive the DAISY Award, established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Barnes died in 1999 at the age of 33 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

An excerpt from Thomas' nomination form read: "Camilla has never refused to do something that would accommodate a veteran. Whether it is an eye acuity test, ear lavage, medication injection, checking a veteran in for another nurse, etc., I have seen Camilla drop her things (while walking out the door to leave work for the day) to give a veteran a flu shot. She truly loves the veterans as much as they love her. Veterans often ask for Camilla by name, and whether the veteran is in her panel or not - she helps them. She is an asset to Primary Care and it shows in her work every day. Camilla truly deserves this award."

Thomas resides in Reno and has worked at Ionnis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center for nearly 10 years.

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